And Jason is merely pointing it out:
By organizing around the old guard, by being openly hostile to Republican bloggers, by failing to understand that you are not truly anonymous on the internet, by failing to grasp a basic understanding of new media, by having access to RPV dealings, these individuals are representing themselves as mouth pieces of the Republican Party Of Virginia and threatening the message and direction that the party so desperately needs if it is going to organize and pull itself out of the downward trend of the last few elections.
All of this shows a lack of understanding of the New Media on the part of the current Republican Party of Virginia leadership. Efforts by bloggers to reach out to the RPV and help were met with invitations to blog for the RPV but no real avenue for input in how the RPV conducts its online outreach. Serious questions are raised about the organization of the current leadership and the state of the future of this party, whether it belongs to new voices and new ideas or the same, old, bitter trends that have gotten the party to where it is today.
Leslie expands upon the theme:
I prefer the term social media (although a fair argument can be made that new media is more encompassing). What's special about blogs, micro-blogs like twitter, social networking sites like facebook, and most everything else that gets lumped under the rubric of "new media" is that it's interactive. People post something; other people respond; there's communication; knowledge spreads; ideas are refined. At least that's the ideal.
But if those who want to lead aren't engaged, well, then they can't really lead. The "Here's our content; you spread it, and otherwise don't bother me because I'm too important" days are over.
And several others have chimed in as well:
- Scott's Morning Brew
- Crystal Clear Conservative
- Virginia Virtucon
- Below the Beltway
- The Write Side of My Brain
They are all prominent conservative and right-leaning bloggers, and they all agree with Jason that the RPV's ham-handed handling of the blogosphere bodes ill for the GOP.
Hampton Roads GOP, one of the blogs Jason singles out for chastising, attempted to put their own two cents in, but with their first trackback (which is from a post that does not reference Jason's post in any way), displays their fumble-footed lack of savvy regarding the blogosphere. Their second trackback does link Jason's post (oh, look! They can learn - if you whap them upside the head enough.), but it's merely a plaintive "Can't we all just get along?" which doesn't address the foundational issue. (And, no, I'm not going to send those arrogant minions a link. Go find your own.)
What is that issue? Well, how about I quote Jeff Frederick's comment over on Jason's post?
As you may know, I rarely read blogs. Nothing personal, just a time management thing. But occasionally, people forward me links and I read. Thus, I landed here.
Before I address the critique of my leadership on new media in this post (I’m not going to get into the turf battle among bloggers), let me just say that I am surprised that a group of people who spend so much time communicating have failed to communicate with me directly regarding these concerns on the Party’s efforts with new media. I’m easy to get ahold of. Email me. Call me. As the many people that write me everyday will tell you, I respond.
Uh-huh. You rarely read blogs. Well, than, it's no wonder you are apparently so out of touch with the base! As for the time management issue, if you did some research and chose about 6-12 blogs to monitor (I'd suggest that Bearing Drift, for one, ought to be at the top of the list), you wouldn't overwhelm that poor, sore head of yours, and would still be able to keep up with what YOUR EMPLOYERS really want.
Yes, I said "YOUR EMPLOYERS." We, the citizens. We, the right-leaning, small government, low-tax, secure-borders, fiscal-responsibility people who might actually VOTE for RPV candidates. Without us, Jeffy, you're gone, gone, gone, as is the RNC and RPC, and all the Republican organizations which have failed so spectacularly at fielding candidates who reflect OUR values and concerns.
Oh, and as for us contacting you? As a member of the Jeffersoniad, I have personal knowledge that we DID contact you, and the RPV appeared to immediately try to force us into the cookie-cutter image of what they thought would work. Nuh-uh. We are no one's yes-men here in the Virginia blogosphere. Give us issues, give us arguments, listen to our discussions and our refutations and suggestions, but - as I learned through a painful experience last year - you can't herd cats. You can guide them, you can sway them, but the moment you "put your foot down," you've lost them.
The GOP hasn't listened to its base for years. How's that working for you, guys?
So, Jeffy, you and the upitty-ups of the Republican Party need to get off the fence and ENGAGE.
Or your jobs will disappear faster than ice in the Mojave Desert at high noon - and so will the GOP.
(BTW, for those of you who think this is overly harsh, yeah, well, I'm sick, I'm feeling quite temperamental, and I just don't feel like "making nice." Deal with it.)
